Hi Guys
Today I decided to go on a solo visit to various buildings in Leicester. I stumbled across this little gem; Friars’ Mill, Leicester’s oldest mill.
I have not yet been able to find much history of the site however I believe that the firm Messers Donisthorpe were spinning on the site from the mid 1730s, the current building was built in 1796 and is grade II listed. I gather that Alfred Donisthorpe expanded the mill in the late 1860s-1870s to include the second building south of the site which still exists today.
The mill continued to expand up until the mid 20th century to cover the majority of the site. These more recent buildings have been demolished leaving only Alfred’s mid 19th Century building and the earlier 18th century one.
The plan for the site is a bar/restaurant and offices.
My camera was on its last legs, so hope the photos aren’t too bad.
Enjoy
Ground floor, showing steel columns with spaces for the drive shaft.
First floor, more steel columns, possibly a later addition given the age of the building:
Top floor with ladder leading to the attic and tower above:
View from Tower:
Inside the second building, dating from the late 19th Century:
First floor:
Top floor, showing the beautiful roof structure:
Finally, leaving:
Thanks Guys.
Today I decided to go on a solo visit to various buildings in Leicester. I stumbled across this little gem; Friars’ Mill, Leicester’s oldest mill.
I have not yet been able to find much history of the site however I believe that the firm Messers Donisthorpe were spinning on the site from the mid 1730s, the current building was built in 1796 and is grade II listed. I gather that Alfred Donisthorpe expanded the mill in the late 1860s-1870s to include the second building south of the site which still exists today.
The mill continued to expand up until the mid 20th century to cover the majority of the site. These more recent buildings have been demolished leaving only Alfred’s mid 19th Century building and the earlier 18th century one.
The plan for the site is a bar/restaurant and offices.
My camera was on its last legs, so hope the photos aren’t too bad.
Enjoy
Ground floor, showing steel columns with spaces for the drive shaft.
First floor, more steel columns, possibly a later addition given the age of the building:
Top floor with ladder leading to the attic and tower above:
View from Tower:
Inside the second building, dating from the late 19th Century:
First floor:
Top floor, showing the beautiful roof structure:
Finally, leaving:
Thanks Guys.
